Cooper under review

According to Cooper, Watson told him DiMuro wrote in his incident report that Cooper kicked dirt at him during an argument that occurred after DiMuro tossed Ivan Rodriguez in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Minute Maid Park.

“He did tell me he was going to review it again and look for something,” Cooper said of Watson. “The umpire reported that I did something.”

Cooper kicked dirt as he headed to the dugout, but denies kicking it at DiMuro.

“I did do that,” Cooper said, “but it wasn’t like I was standing right in front of him and kicked it on him.”

Dickerson out

Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson was out of the lineup Tuesday with the concussion-like symptoms that forced him to exit after the fifth inning Monday.

Dickerson was hurt when he slid into second and banged heads with Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada, who tumbled forward after dropping a toss from Lance Berkman in the fourth inning.

“I’m fine,” said Tejada, who has swelling above his left eye.

Quintero improves

Catcher Humberto Quintero, on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, played catch Tuesday for the first time since he was hurt blocking the plate against Milwaukee’s Mike Cameron.

“I feel better,” Quintero said. “I threw six balls in the cage, and my shoulder is better. I feel a little pain right here (on the right side of his neck), but they say that’s normal and is caused because of the way I fell. I was even able to lift my arm today like if I was lifting weights. I think I’ll start running (today).”

Backe cranks it up

Backe gave up one run on two hits and two walks with one strikeout over four innings Monday at Round Rock in the first of likely five rehab starts as he returns from a strained left intercostal muscle.

“Burt had left me a message that everything went fine with Backe,” Robinson said. “The goal was four innings, 70-75 pitches. He went four innings, 63 pitches.”